ANDY MURRAY is putting his faith in Alex Corretja to help him win his first Grand Slam title.

The Scot reached the US Open Final last year and established himself as the world's fourth-best player.

Now he wants the Spaniard to help him make his next big breakthrough.

Last year Corretja helped Murray through the clay court season and the men will join forces again when the tour moves back to Europe in April.

But Murray believes that the former world No.2 has much more to offer than a few tips on playing on the slow red dirt.

Murray said: "It's a little bit disrespectful for everyone to think Alex can only help you on a clay court. The guy was a great player on most surfaces.

"I'm not going to spend loads of time with him. I love the work that's going on with my coach, Miles Maclagan, but I just think that some weeks it's good to be apart.

"I'll spend seven or eight weeks a year with Alex but whether it's four practice weeks and four weeks at tournaments, we'll wait and see."

Corretja's influence last year worked well and quickly. The Scot had only won four matches in two years on the slowest and most taxing of all the surfaces but with his friend's help, he reached the third round at the French Open, the Hamburg Masters and the Monte Carlo Masters.

Not only is the Spaniard a font of information - Murray may use him as more of a consultant than a true coach - but he also fits easily into the team atmosphere.

Even if Murray's Scottish accent worried Corretja at first, he soon got the hang of the banter and general teasing that is part and parcel of every training session.

The Spaniard said: "I had so much fun with him and I didn't know if that would happen.

"First of all I didn't know if I was going to be able to understand their jokes, because when they talk to each other so fast it's difficult to get it. He likes to make a lot of jokes."

It is the fact that Corretja is one of the nicest and most popular men around the tennis tour that makes him a perfect match for Murray.

The main reason the Scot built a squad of people around him was to ensure that there was never a chance of getting bored with the daily routines.

And between Murray, Maclagan, Jez Green, Matt Little and Andy Ireland, the jokes fly back and forth.

Murray is bright with a quick mind and a sharp wit and he works best when he has agroup of people around him.

The addition of Corretja will just add a little spice to the mix which will make the practice sessions and the training all the more enjoyable.

Murray said: "It's just a little bit different. I think if you're going to be on the tour for 12 years or whatever, you just don't want things to get stale.

"That's why when I go to the States, I travel with Jez; when I'm in Europe, I travel with Matt.

"Me and Miles, we do a lot of the same things most days and it is repetitive - in a good way - but sometimes it's just nice to do different things.

And Alex will have different ideas, different drills - it's good to keep your mind fresh.

"It worked in the clay court season last year and I think it'll help on other courts as well."

Corretja is also an extremely talented football tennis player - and that is as important to Murray as any advice the Spaniard has to offer.

Most practice sessions end with a fiercely competitive tennis football match. And Murray likes to win He said: "Alex is very good.

He's not as good as me and Miles, but he's good. That's one of the reasons I want to keep working with him."

In the meantime Murray will take on Tommy Robredo in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open today after his doubles win last night.

The Scot and his partner, Ross Hutchins sped into the quarterfinals by making mincemeat of the Brazili an pair Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa, the No.8 seeds, 6-1, 6-3.

The Brits now face Max Mirnyi - Jamie Murray's expartner - and Andy Ram for a place in the semis.